False Solomon's seal

Sun

Partial shade to full shade; morning sun is suitable where the soil stays moist, but avoid hot afternoon sun.

Water

Keep the soil evenly moist during establishment and dry spells; established plants tolerate brief dry periods but may go dormant early.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained soil that retains moisture; slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal, though the plant tolerates a wider pH range.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

1.5-2 ft (0.45-0.6 m) initially, forming wider colonies over time

Flowers

Late spring to early summer; small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers in branching clusters at the stem tips.

Foliage

Alternate, oval to lance-shaped green leaves with conspicuous parallel veins on arching stems; turns yellow in autumn and dies back for winter.

Growth

Moderate once established; slow to settle after planting.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Cold hardy
• Wildlife
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.4 ft (0.42 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.7 ft (0.53 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.1 ft (0.65 m)

5. After 5 years

   2.5 ft (0.75 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Native to

the US and Canada

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the crown at soil level in a sheltered, shaded position.
• Water deeply during the first growing season and whenever prolonged dry weather dries the root zone.
• Apply a 2 in (5 cm) layer of leaf mould or compost each spring, keeping it clear of emerging shoots.
• Avoid routine high-nitrogen feeding; an annual compost mulch is usually enough.
• Leave established clumps undisturbed unless they become crowded or spread beyond their allotted space.

Pruning. Leave stems standing while the foliage remains green and berries are developing. Cut dead stems to ground level in late autumn or late winter, before new shoots emerge.

Late winter

Remove any remaining dead stems before new shoots appear.

Early spring

Plant or divide dormant clumps, then water well.

Spring

Mulch with leaf mould or compost and check emerging shoots for slug damage.

Summer

Water during prolonged dry spells, particularly beneath thirsty trees.

Autumn

Leave berries for birds and allow the yellowing foliage to die back naturally.

Late autumn

Plant container-grown specimens while the soil is workable, and mark their positions before they disappear for winter.

• Plant in loose groups beneath deciduous trees for arching foliage and late-spring flowers.
• Combine with ferns and sedges along shaded paths, where its stems soften the edges.
• Use behind spring bulbs and woodland ephemerals to fill space as their foliage dies down.
• Repeat through a woodland border with foamflowers and wild ginger for a layered ground-level planting.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Wildlife garden, Low-maintenance, Secret garden and Autumn colour.

Plant it with: Christmas fern, Maidenhair fern, Foamflower, Wild ginger, Woodland phlox and Pennsylvania sedge.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen for visiting insects, including small bees and flies. Birds and small mammals eat the ripe berries, and colonies provide low woodland cover.

• Slugs and snails may chew emerging shoots; check after dark, remove them by hand and use wildlife-conscious controls where needed.
• Brown leaf edges or early dormancy usually indicate drought or excessive sun; water deeply, mulch and provide more afternoon shade.
• Poor growth or rotting rhizomes can result from waterlogged soil; improve drainage or move the plant to a better-drained position.
• Occasional leaf spots are usually minor; remove badly affected leaves, avoid wetting foliage and clear diseased debris.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs or horses, and not generally considered poisonous to people. The berries can have a laxative effect and may cause digestive upset if eaten in quantity. Do not eat unidentified woodland berries: true Solomon's seal and some other lookalikes are poisonous.

• Solomon's seal (Polygonatum spp.)

  True Solomon's seal has tubular flowers hanging beneath the stems from the leaf axils, usually followed by dark blue or black berries.

• Star-flowered false Solomon's seal (Maianthemum stellatum)

  Usually shorter, with narrower leaves and a small, unbranched terminal cluster of distinct star-shaped flowers rather than a dense, branching plume.

• White baneberry (Actaea pachypoda)

  White baneberry has divided leaves with toothed leaflets, rather than simple leaves with parallel veins. Its white berries have conspicuous dark tips and are poisonous.

The common name refers to its resemblance to Solomon's seal, while racemosum refers to its clustered flowers.

Propagation. Divide rhizomes in early spring before growth starts, keeping several buds and a good root system on each piece. Fresh seed can be sown outdoors in autumn, but germination is slow and may take two winters; seedlings take several years to flower.

Accepted botanical name

Maianthemum racemosum

In the US and Canada

Native in Alaska, Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia and Florida.

Measured

Average height 24 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.